Desk



ct. 29, 1935. A Wl C. LEHMAN 2,019,455

DESK

Filed Aug. 24, 1934 5 Sheets-Sheet l lli Oct. 29, 1935. w. c. LEHMAN 019,455

DESK

Filed Aug. 24, 1954 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 y Wdm/ Cle/177mm M film Oct. 29, 1935. w. c. LEHMAN I DESK Filed Aug. 24, 1954 3 Sheets--Sheel 3 I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l ff Patented Oct. 29, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT oFFics DESK William C. Lehman, Cannelton, Ind., assignor to The Lehman Company of America, Inc., Can- A nelton, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application August 24, 1934, Serial No. 741,210

.- of the pigeonhole type oi desk but is readily converted into a at top desk.

In the accompanying drawings there is illustrated two preferred embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood, however, that these embodiments are given for purposes of exemplification only and are not to be construed as unnecessarily limiting the scope of the protection sought and dened by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation showing a desk with the back portion containing the pigeonholes in raised position;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing a desk with the backfportion containing the pigeonholes in closed position so that the desk has the appearance of a flat top desk;

Fig. 3 is a detailed View in section withportions broken away and portions shown in dotted lines to illustrate one form of mechanism for operating the back portion of the desk;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing the same form of mechanism as disclosed in Fig. 3, Fig. 3 being taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. el;I

Fig. 5- is a detailed sectional View of an oil piston dashpot used in conjunction with the raising and lowering mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a View showing the guide means for the back portion of a desk;

Fig. '7 is a view showing a modified form of mechanism employing counterweights for raising and lowering the back portion of a desk; and

Fig. 8 is a section taken on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7.

Referring first to the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, it will be observed that the desk proper, which is indicated by the reference numeral II, has a back portion I2 containing a plurality of pigeonholes, as-shown in Fig. 1. The back portion I2 is provided at each end with downwardly extending members I 2a and stops I2b. g Attached to the members I 2a are metal guide strips I3 that ride in metal grooves I4 secured in the outer side walls of the desk. The back portion of the top of the desk is, therefore, slidable upwardly and downwardly so that it may assume the positions shown respectively in Figs. l and 2.

It is preferable to make the slidable back portion as a separate insert that ts within the outer walls of the desk, as is apparent from Fig.

(Cl. l5-70).

6, although it can be constructed with the back portion of the desk serving as one of the walls.

The balance of the desk, as shown in the drawings, is of standard construction. Obviously, however, the arrangement ofv the main portion of 5 the desk is not of the essence of the invention.

To operate the sliding back portion of the desk I2 a spring and oil piston mechanism, shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, is provided. The spring I5 is fastened at its upper end I6 by means of a 10 suitable fastening member II to a fixed portion of the body of the desk. Extending downwardly and rigidly secured to the top is a frame member I8, to the bottom I3 of which is secured the bottom of the spring I5. An oil plunger or dashpot is provided, .the piston rod 2| of which is secured at its upper end 22 to a iixed portion of the body of the desk and the cylinder 23 is secured at the bottom 24 by suitable Vfastening means to the frame member I8.

A stop member 25 is provided to engage openings 23 in the front wall 2l of the frame member I8. The stop member 25 is provided with a handle` member 28 and a coil spring 29 which abuts against the block 3i) and a collar 3|, the latter 25 being secured to the stop member 25.

In `the operation of the mechanism thus far identified by reference numerals, the handle member 28 is pulled outwardly to compress the coil spring 29 and remove the stop member from 301 the lower opening 2li of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3. The sliding top portion of the desk may now be depressed and upon being depressed the coil spring 29 will be expanded andthe piston 2i will move upwardly in the cylinder 23. 35 When the top portion I2 has reached the iinal position so that it is flush with the top of the remainder of the desk Vthe stop 25 will engage the top opening 26 and hold the top member I2 in closed position. In this position the spring, 4l) plunger and frame member I8 will Vbe in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. 4 it will be observed that in this View the top portion I2 is in closed position and the spring I5 is fully expanded. The details 45 of the oil piston or dashpot are shown in Fig. 5. This dashpot is of standard construction, the cylinder being iilled with oil and the piston being provided with a channel 32 through which the oil may iiow when the piston is moved back y and forth although, obviously, the channel is suiiiciently small to retard the movement of the piston and, consequently, the top of the desk when it is manipulated.

To raise the top portion I2, the handle 28 is 55 pulled outwardly to remove the stop from the upper opening 26. The spring I5, being in an expanded position, will exert force through the frame member I8 to the top of the desk and raise the top of the desk. The presence of the dashpot retards the action of the spring so that the top moves up slowly and gently and reaches its nal position with a smooth and easy action.

The spring and dashpot mechanism is located at the center of the desk so that the device operates evenly and the slidable portion of the top does not bind.

Referring to the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8, it will be observed that in this modified embodiment of the invention a counterweight is employed in lieu of the spring and dashpot mechanism. Projecting downwardly from in back of the desk will be found the member 36 which is provided with openings 31 to receive the stop member 38, the latter being provided with a handle 39. A cross member 40 is xedly secured to a stationary portion of the desk, preferably the back thereof, at a point below the final resting place of the top section I2 when it is in lowered position. Depending from the member 40 is a rope 4I which passes downwardly around a pulley 42. The pulley 42 is mounted o n a member 43 which extends down from and is integral with the top member I2. After passing around the pulley 42 the rope 4I passes around the pulley 44 which pulley is secured to the member 40. The rope then extends across the back of the desk around the pulley 45 which is likewise secured to the member 40 and thence around the pulley 46 which is secured to the top of the weight 41. The rope then passes around the pulley 48, this pulley also being secured to the member 48 and thence downwardly to the pulley 50, the latter pulley being fixed to the member 5I which member, like the member 43, is also securedV to the top of the desk. Thence the rope extends upwardly to the member 48 and is fastened thereto. The weight 41 and the pulleys 45 and 48 may be located behind the drawers in the desk so that they are not conspicuous.

In the operation of this form of device, when the desk is lowered, as shown in full lines in Fig. 7, the weight 41 is raised and the stop 38 fits in the upper hole 31. When the stop 38 is removed from the hole 31 by means of thehandle 39 the weight through the rope and pulley system exerts an upward force on the members 43 and 5I, raising the top of the desk to the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 7 and 8. Obviously, the stop 38 then ts in the lower hole 31 and the movable portion I2 at the top of the desk is rigidly held in place. Removing the stop 38 from the lower hole 31 and. pressing down on the top portion I2 of the desk will force it into flush position and the weight, through the rope and pulley mechanism, will'be raised to the position shown in full lines in Figs-'1 and 8.

The invention is particularly useful in desks of various kinds and types wherein it is desired to have the advantage of pigeonholes and at the same time avoid their unsightly appearance except when the desk is in use. By utilizing the invention it is possible to quickly clear the desk 5 and lower the back member and thus give it a neat appearance for the purpose of receiving visitors in business oces and the like. This is also a desirable and advantageous feature for a. desk constructed for use in the home. 10

The invention has been embodied in childrens desks and is found to have an appeal to the child because of its mechanical nature and also to the mother because it may be quickly put in order.

If the top and guide mechanism is 'carefully 15 constructed, when the portion I2 is closed the desk has a finished appearance and the small crack between the body portion of the desk and the portion I2 is barely noticeable.

I claim: 20

1. In a desk the combination of a body portion,

a xed top portion and a. vertically slidable top. portion, means for raising said slidable top portion comprising a spring secured to the body portion of said desk and to said top portion, said 25 spring being under tension when said top portion is in lowered position, a dashpot cooperatively associated with said spring to retard the return of energy therefrom and means for securing said top portion in lowered position. 2. In a desk the combination of a body portion, a top, a portion of said top being slidable verti- Ically, said top portion being provided with depending guide members that intert in guideways in said body portion, a spring member secured at one end to said body portion, a member depending from said vertically slidable top portion and having the other end of said spring attached thereto in such manner as to place said spring under tension when said top portion is in V lowered position, stop means associated with said vertically slidable portion of said top to fix the same in predetermined positions and means for retarding the action of said spring.

3. In a desk the combination of a body portion, 5 a top, a portion of said top being slidable vertically, said top portion having depending members spaced from the side walls of said body portion, wear-resisting guide members mounted in said side walls, complementary wear-resisting guide 50 members mounted in said depending members, said guide members maintaining a spaced relationship between said depending members and said side walls, means for exerting an upward pressure on said top portion when the same is in lowered position which upon release thereof will force said top portion upwardly and which upon downward pressure on said top portion will store energy to raise the same, and releasable means for securing said top portion in either raised or 00 lowered position.

Y WILLIAM C. LEHMAN. 

